October timetable for Pengwern Community Hub

 

£82,000 to be spent on improving Plas Newydd exhibition room

More than £82,000 is set to be spent on improving the main exhibition room at Plas Newydd in Llangollen, according to the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: Plas Newydd in Llangollen to benefit from funding boost | Denbighshire Free Press

Council considers steps to solve waste collection headaches

* The troliboc at the centre of the new waste collection system.

Denbighshire County Council is to consider paying for extra vehicles and staff at a cost of over £1m to help overcome major problems created by its troubled new household waste collection system.   

Since its introduction at the start of June there has been a catalogue of problems with late or missed collections right across the county, including Llangollen.

At a special meeting of its cabinet next Tuesday afternoon members will be asked to approve the purchase of the new vehicles in a bid to ensure the service can be delivered on a sustainable footing, according to a report from the council’s Corporate Director: Environment and Economy & Head of Highways & Environmental Service.

The report says: On 3rd June 2024 the council implemented a new waste/recycling service. The costs for the service change was originally approved by Cabinet on 19th December 2018 and was subsequently reviewed by Cabinet on 12th April 2022.

“Much has changed during this time, including key variables associated with this service change (e.g. increases in construction costs, costs of vehicles, development of more housing in the County requiring a waste service etc).

“It soon became apparent after the roll out of the new service that some of the assumptions were flawed.

“The main issue being some of the daily recycling rounds had been designed with too many properties requiring collection. This meant we were seeing several rounds per day not completing, resulting in large and unacceptable numbers of missed collections.

“There will be full review of how the roll out was planned and implemented which will include an examination of the assumptions underpinning the design of the new service.”

The report goes on: “Without committing additional resources the new service cannot be delivered successfully and sustainably and we will continue to spend significantly more on inefficient short term day to day decisions to ensure missed collections are minimised/corrected.

“The day-to-day management decisions since the roll out have focused on the hire of additional vehicles, increase in the use of agency staff, and the use of overtime for existing staff.

“In order to put the new waste/recycling rounds on a sustainable footing additional recycling rounds are required. The original model as rolled out was based on 20 rounds per day. The number of additional rounds required ranges from 6 to 8 rounds depending on the day of the week.

“This requires the purchase of an additional 8 vehicles at a capital cost of £1.299m and additional drivers and loaders to operate the vehicles.

“If this additional budget is approved, then we can immediately plan to implement the necessary changes, and the introduction of the additional rounds can commence within week’s of today’s Cabinet meeting.”

* The full report to be considered by cabinet members next Tuesday is at: Denbighshire County Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, 2.00 pm

Over 20 organisations to attend volunteer fair at Town Hall

                 

DVSC is hosting a Volunteer Recruitment fair at Llangollen Town Hall today (Wednesday).  

Over 20 local organisations will be advertising their services and volunteering opportunities.

Organisers have recently updated the opening time from 12noon to 12.30pm.

New boards point the way to town's main attractions

* Near the crossing opposite the Bridge End. 

* On Abbey Road.

* At the railway entrance.

* Outside the Royal.

* The original board near canal Bridge 46 which showed the town centre in the wrong direction.

A crop of wayfinding boards pointing the way to major attractions in Llangollen has been installed in various sites across the town.

The tall information monoliths are part of the Four Great Highways project which is now nearing completion and has been paid for by the previous UK Conservative government's Levelling Up Fund.

Pointing the way to places such as the canal, the railway and parks, they have been fixed in place at points including the wharf, the new steel walkway up to the canal from Abbey Road, the railway entrance and on the corner of Castle Street and Bridge Street outside the Royal Hotel.

However, there appears to have been a slight hitch with the one set up by canal's Bridge 46 last week.

It was removed within just a few days after someone revealed on social media that it showed the town centre in the wrong direction.          

Eisteddfod announces first of big-name 2025 concerts

Global pop-rock sensation The Script are heading to North Wales next summer as part of their Satellites UK Tour.

The Irish chart toppers are the first act to be announced to headline Live at Llangollen Pavilion in 2025 and will perform at the venue on Thursday July 3. They will be joined on the night by very special guest Tom Walker.

Tickets go on sale at 10am Saturday September 28.

The Script – made up of Danny O'Donoghue (vocals), Glen Power (drums), Ben Sargeant (bass) and Ben Weaver (guitar) - first rose to fame in 2008 with the release of their self-titled debut album, which featured hit singles The Man Who Can't Be Moved and Breakeven. Since then, the band have enjoyed a hit-filled career including six Number One albums.

With their infectious energy, The Script present a memorable night of new music and fan-favourites, which is sure to be a hit as they make their Llangollen debut.

BRIT Award winner Tom Walker is a British singer-songwriter who burst onto the scene with his hit single Leave a Light On. His debut album What a Time to Be Alive, topped the UK Albums Chart and showcased his distinctive sound. Tom’s performance is set to add an extra layer of excitement to what promises to be an unforgettable night in Llangollen.

The announcement is part of an ongoing partnership with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

This year saw Cuffe and Taylor - one of the UK’s leading promoters of live music, theatre, and events - partner with the International Eisteddfod for the first time, presenting 11 headline concerts in conjunction with the world-famous festival.

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor said: “After the incredible success of our first year working with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod team, we are delighted to continue our partnership for 2025.

“A headline show with The Script is a great first announcement and we will be revealing even more big-name artists very soon. We’ve had the pleasure of working with the band before and they certainly put on a spectacular show. I’m sure our Llangollen audience will have an unforgettable evening with this incredible artist.”

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford added: “2024 was an amazing year for us, and we’re really excited about all of the artists we’re planning to bring to North East Wales in 2025.

“The Script are hugely popular, and they’re the perfect choice for our first summer announcement, along with the brilliant Tom Walker as a special guest. We can’t wait to welcome them all to Llangollen on 3 July.” For more information and to purchase tickets go to llangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Developments to be showcased at county's tourism forum

* Delegates at a previous Denbighshire Tourism Forum.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be represented at Denbighshire’s next Tourism Forum, which will take place on Wednesday, October 16 at the Oriel Hotel, St Asaph. 

Tourism plays a vital part in the county's economy, with a total economic impact in 2023 of £736 million, up 17% on the previous year. 

Visitor numbers in Denbighshire also continue to grow, with the 2023 figure showing 6.4 million.

 

A variety of information stands will be present including, Business Wales, Federation of Small Businesses, Woodland Skills Centre, Denbighshire Heritage Service, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, Smart Towns, Working Denbighshire, Denbighshire Tourism and Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Hosted between 10.30am-1.30pm, the event provides an opportunity for delegates to hear about the latest tourism developments and meet other like-minded businesses and share experiences.

 

Guest speakers at this event include Joe Bickerton, Tourism Manager Wrexham Borough Council, who’ll be highlighting new in-bound travel opportunities for the sector in Denbighshire created by the raised international profile of Wrexham FC.

 

Other speakers include Rhian Hughes, Smart Towns Digital Officer, who will be describing how insights from electronic data can be used to manage assets, resources, and services efficiently and in return can be used to improve operations and future prosperity within towns, and Ceri Lloyd, Sustainable Development Officer, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. 

Ceri will be explaining the reasons why all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales are becoming National Landscapes.

 

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said: “Tourism is a vital industry, which is rooted firmly within Denbighshire.

 

"Our visitors come to experience our culture and heritage and explore our mountains and coast. Denbighshire has so much to offer, all within one County.”

 

Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said: “We have three great speakers lined up for the forum, who are all eager to share their knowledge and know-how with the sector. As always we welcome everyone involved in tourism and also anyone who wishes to get real insight into this vibrant and vital industry.”